Kenema, Sierra Leone, March 17, 2026 – The Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Madam Pascaline Barankeba, has lauded the establishment of Sierra Leone’s first-ever Rural Farmers Radio 98.9 FM in Kenema as a landmark achievement in advancing agricultural transformation, strengthening food security and reducing rural poverty nationwide.
During her first official visit to the Radio Station established under the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme Phase II (RFCIP II), Madam Barankeba commended the strong and enduring partnership between IFAD and the Government of Sierra Leone in delivering impactful rural development initiatives. She highlighted the significant contributions of flagship programmes, including the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme Phase II, the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project and the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project, in strengthening rural economies and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
The IFAD Country Director described the Rural Farmers Radio as a strategic communication platform and noted that the initiative aligns closely with the Government’s Feed Salone agenda by equipping farmers with knowledge on improved agricultural practices, market opportunities and value chain development.
She stated that; “In a country where agriculture remains central to livelihoods, this Rural Farmers Radio is contributing directly to national priorities, including the Feed Salone agenda, by ensuring that farmers have access to timely, practical and relevant information. This is essential to strengthening agricultural productivity, improving food security and supporting the transformation of key value chains such as rice, vegetables, tree crops and livestock.”
She further underscored the station’s role in promoting financial literacy and inclusion, enabling farmers and rural entrepreneurs to access financial services provided by institutions such as the Apex Bank, as well as the network of Community Banks and Financial Services Associations across the country.
Reaffirming IFAD’s systems-based approach to rural development, Madam Barankeba emphasized that investments in agriculture, finance, infrastructure and knowledge management must be interconnected to achieve sustainable impact. She noted that the Rural Farmers Radio is central to ensuring effective information flow, empowering farmers to fully benefit from development interventions.
Welcoming the IFAD delegation, the General Manager of Rural Farmers Radio, Mr. George Nyambe Williams, described the station as a pioneering platform for rural development communication. According to Mr. Williams, Rural Farmers Radio 98.9 FM is the first-ever IFAD-funded rural development radio station in the world, established under the RFCIP to bridge the communication gap between farmers, development partners, and policymakers.
He expressed profound appreciation to IFAD and the RFCIP team for initiating and supporting this innovative communication platform. He also acknowledged the significant contribution of Africell Sierra Leone, which hosts and powers the station’s seven transmitter sites nationwide, describing the partnership as instrumental in expanding the station’s reach.
He further revealed that Africell has recently provided the station with a free call line, enabling farmers to participate in radio programmes without the burden of purchasing airtime. This, he noted, has made the station’s programmes more interactive, inclusive and farmer-driven.
As part of the mission, the delegation from IFAD and the Government of Sierra Leone also visited the Jawei Financial Services Association and Pendembu Community Bank, where they engaged directly with beneficiaries of the RFCIP. Discussions focused on the potential transformation of Jawei FSA into a Community Bank, in recognition of its strong performance in expanding access to finance within its catchment area. Both institutions are among the top-performing rural financial institutions within the network of 76 established under the rural finance scheme.
The visit forms part of IFAD’s ongoing mission to scale up the RFCIP, which has already impacted over 260,000 households. The programme aims to leverage additional financing to further expand access to financial services, particularly in hard-to-reach rural communities across Sierra Leone.
